Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[jacksonian]

[ He takes a pastry, finally. He tests it with his fingers. He's never had one of these before, and the texture as he feels it is weird - simultaneously soft and crisp and flaky. It's...interesting. ]

Do you think I'm going to?

[ He keeps watching Miles. There's the slightest hint of challenge in the set of his mouth. Do you? ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles shakes his head. Takes another bite. ]

No. I don't.

[jacksonian]

Why?

[ He finally takes a bite. He nearly jerks his head back in shock. He was raised on the nutrition-rich meals at the clone-creche, every one of them perfectly balanced to nourish the clones' bodies ideally - without having the least bit of taste. After that, rat bars. After that, ImpSec prison rations. This is the first time he's tasted real food. And it's a doozy. The rich bread, the vibrant pop of jelly on his tongue - it's so much more than he expected. He's lost, for a moment, not even attending to the conversation, too lost in the sensory overload of flavor.

Holy shit. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles can't help but grin at that. And offer another pastry to him. God, his brother looks half-starved like this...

Rather than answer the direct question, he tries something else. ]

Do you really think my father would do this without telling me? That I was on Komarr attracting assassination attempts accidentally?

[jacksonian]

[ His eyes dart between that pastry and Miles a moment before, cautiously, he takes it from him. Another bite nearly sets him back on his heels. Shit. But, right, the question - ]

Obviously not. It was a trap from the beginning. We'd considered that possibility, too. Galen just thought that the Bu...that Count Vorkosigan wouldn't risk your life like that.

[dendarii]

[ Good. He'll just keep these pastries in reach and go snag the next dish. A plate of various cured meats. ]

You're right. He wouldn't. But I would if I thought I had a chance of rescuing my brother.

[jacksonian]

[ Oh. He fidgets - ]

You buy into that crap, too, then?

[dendarii]

What's crap about it?

[jacksonian]

I'm not anybody's brother. Or son.

[ He fidgets a little harder, then reaches out and grabs at a bit of salami. ]

I'm just a clone.

[dendarii]

That's crap. You're my brother no matter how you feel about being a Vorkosigan.

[jacksonian]

Says who?

[dendarii]

Says me. Isn't that worth something?

[jacksonian]

[ A shrug. ]

Not really.

[dendarii]

That's rude.

[ He steals another pastry. ]

[jacksonian]

[ His brow furrows. ]

It's just the truth. You have Barrayaran authority, yeah, but you're not a Count yet, so you can't actually make things into law. And you definitely don't have enough personal wealth to enforce your worldview. So unless you have a lot more hidden power I don't know about, what you say won't necessarily go.

[ Ah, Jacksonians. ]

[dendarii]

[ He could say something to that last comment, but ... ]

Then it's a damn good thing my father agrees with me. And Gregor too.

[jacksonian]

Gregor? You mean - Emperor Gregor? He - has opinions about this...?

[ What a stupid thing to ask... ]

Anyway, it's, uh - That wasn't the question you asked.

[dendarii]

Of course he does. He'd have to approve.

[ And even if not immediately, then he will. Miles is sure of it. Besides, surely his father must have told him in order to carry out the operation to begin with...]

What question was that?

[jacksonian]

You know. Why doesn't it matter what you say. That's about what they say.

[dendarii]

[ Oh. Miles blinks for a moment at him. ]

I say you're my brother. That's my opinion.

[jacksonian]

I tried to kill you a few days ago.

[dendarii]

You didn't even get close. Trust me, I've had much worse.

[jacksonian]

[ His lips tighten, and he looks away. Far from being a comfort, that hurts his pride. An untrustworthy assassin, but at least you were incompetent. Sure... ]

[dendarii]

[ Did he miscalculate? It seems so. He tries to sound comforting. ]

Even if you had gotten close, I have other tricks up my sleeve. And Bothari.

[jacksonian]

[ Still not helpful. ]

That's not the point.